Organisation profile

Sustainability has many facets. Inter- and transdisciplinary research and teaching characterize the School of Sustainability. Scientists in our research projects work together in the laboratory, on the heath, in the grassland, in the classroom, with the city administration, with farmers, with non-governmental organizations, with companies, with students in the lecture hall and of course at their desks.

Furthermore, we work with regional and national political actors, e.g. ministries, as well as international organizations, e.g. UNEP, UNESCO, EU. We are part of national and international bodies, e.g. sustainability advisory boards of companies, member of the German Sustainability Award, World Biodiversity Council (IPBES), in order to contribute to social change with scientific findings.

Main research areas

Vision
Sustainability science investigates on a theoretical, conceptual and empirical level how to promote sustainable development and how to find and implement effective solutions for current social and ecological challenges. The aim is to create a more sustainable future.

Sustainability researchers are called upon to take responsibility for their research, which is anchored in existing scientific knowledge and methods and serves to make the world a better place for everyone.

Mission
We promote change towards a sustainable future by developing theories, concepts and practices of inclusive education for sustainability, research, governance and management.

We acknowledge the diversity and dynamics of values, norms and behaviour and contribute with transdisciplinary methods to ensuring that tensions and differences between different disciplines, methods, topics and standards are fruitfully taken up and used with productive compromises and further developments towards sustainable development.

Principles
The School of Sustainability is guided by the normative concepts of ecological system integrity and social and economic justice.

Ecological system integrity refers to the safeguarding of life-support systems, as well as the maintenance of the well-being of life on Earth.

With social and economic justice we strive for a world in which all people can fulfil their potential without endangering system integrity and the well-being of others.

Information about the School
The School of Sustainability includes...
... ca. 25 professors
... ca. 100 research assistants
... ca. 1000 students in Bachelor and Master courses

In various inter- and transdisciplinary projects we are constantly researching and working together on changes and solutions for current challenges.

  1. Published

    The Relationship Between the Environmental and Economic Performance of Firms: An Empirical Analysis of the European Paper Industry

    Wagner, M., Phu, N. V., Azomahou, T. & Wehrmeyer, W., 01.01.2002, In: Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. 9, 3, p. 133-146 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    The relationship between values and knowledge in visioning for landscape management: relevance for a collaborative approach

    Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Zaman, S., Filyushkina, A., López-Rodríguez, M. D., Cebrián-Piqueras, M. A. & Raymond, C. M., 2022, In: Ecosystems and People. 18, 1, p. 498-513 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    The Relationship of Environmental and Economic Performance at the Firm Level: A Review of Empirical Studies in Europe and Methodological Comments

    Wagner, M. & Wehrmeyer, W., 01.01.2002, In: European Environment. 12, 3, p. 149-159 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    The relevance of cultural aspects in cross cultural management in multinational companies

    Ferraris, A., Longo, M. & Warsitzka, M., 01.05.2016, Managing Globalization: New Business Models, Strategies and Innovation. Vrontis, D., Bresciani, S. & Rossi, M. (eds.). Cambridge Scholars Publishing, p. 50-76 27 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  5. Published

    The relevance of international restoration principles for ecosystem restoration practice in Rwanda

    Frietsch, M., Fischer, J., Kaplin, B. A. & Martín-López, B., 03.2024, In: Restoration Ecology. 32, 3, 11 p., e14085.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    The renewable energy sector in Afghanistan: Policy and potential

    Fahimi, A. & Upham, P., 01.03.2018, In: Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment. 7, 2, 9 p., e280.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    The reproductive potential and importance of key management aspects for successful Calluna vulgaris rejuvenation on abandoned Continental heaths

    Henning, K., von Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W., Fichtner, A. & Tischew, S., 01.04.2017, In: Ecology and Evolution. 7, 7, p. 2091-2100 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    The research process of understanding biographical learning processes of sustainability entrepreneurs

    Timm, J.-M., 2016, Routledge Handbook of Higher Education for Sustainable Development. Barth, M., Michelsen, G., Rieckmann, M. & Thomas, I. (eds.). 1 ed. London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 383-395 13 p. 26. (Routledge international handbooks).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    The resilience of agricultural landscapes characterized by land sparing versus land sharing

    Abson, D., Sherren, K. & Fischer, J., 05.2019, Agriculture Resilience: perspectives from ecology and economics. Gardner, S., Hails, R. S. & Ramsden, S. (eds.). Cambrige: Cambridge University Press, p. 232-252 21 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  10. Published

    The restoration of a floodplain in the upper Rhine area: managing the interface of large-scale policy and small-scale implementation

    Kruse, S., 2008, Restoring floodplains in Europe: Policy Contexts and Project Experiences. Moss, T. & Monstadt, J. (eds.). London: IWA Publishing, p. 151-176 26 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review